Judge Jo Kidd described Ryan Bird’s offending as one of the “most grotesque” cases with which she has dealt.

The court heard the Ferryhill offender boasted on the dark web about his sick offending, taking sexual gratification at the distribution of images of his activities, in the hope of receiving similar images in return.

Bird was caught after communicating with an undercover police officer posing as a like-minded paedophile.

Some of the offenders locked up at Durham Crown Court in March (Image: Durham Constabulary)

Shaun Dodds, prosecuting, said Bird sent images of his abuse and disclosed details of his sexual activity, telling the officer he had to crop his face out of the images so he would not be recognised.

Police arrested him in July last year seizing his phone which was analysed.

Mr Dodds said the defendant was co-operative pointing out where his phone was and giving the officers the pin code.

He told the officers: “I’m going to prison” admitting that his victims did not deserve what he had done, adding: “I need help”.

Despite those apparent admissions no plea was taken while the defendant underwent psychiatric examination to assess his fitness to plead.

Having been considered fit to plead, he denied the offences until the date of his trial, in January, when he changed pleas and made admissions, as one of the young victims was on standby to give evidence that day.

Ryan Bird (Image: Durham Constabulary)

Among the offences admitted by 30-year-old Bird, of Kitchener Street, were six of rape, one of attempted rape, two of inciting a child to engage in sexual activity, and one of sexual assault, plus offences of taking indecent images and possessing prohibited images of children.

The judge said it was the most grotesque set of facts in a case she has ever had to read.

She said the defendant’s use of the dark web was an attempt to conceal his activities and to enable him to converse with like-minded paedophiles.

The judge said she had come to the conclusion the defendant poses a serious risk of serious harm, particularly to young children.

Imposing the total 27-year extended sentence she said the defendant must serve at least 18 years behind bars before being eligible for consideration for release by the Parole Board.

But he may have to serve the full 27 years before being released.

Upon his eventual release he will be subject to eight years’ extended licence period.

He will also be subject of Sexual Harm Prevention Order and registration as a sex offender, both “indefinitely”

Restraining orders were put in place relating to each abused child, also indefinitely.

John Andrews

A County Durham paedophile is back behind bars after downloading sickening images of children from the internet.

It also emerged that digger driver John Robert Andrews, with a username “Big John”, tried to engage in online conversation with a child abroad last year, in breach of a Sexual Harm Prevention Order (SHPO).

John Andrews (Image: Durham Constabulary)

The 40-year-old defendant appeared before the court on March 3 after previously admitting breaching the SHPO.

Three further charges relating to the downloading of indecent images of children, in all three categories of severity, were also admitted by him.

Judge Kidd said it appeared to be the defendant’s third conviction relating to images of child abuse, after offences in both 2016 and in 2020, after which he received a 12-month prison sentence, in 2021.

Lucy Todd, prosecuting, confirmed that was the case.

She told the court Andrews was made subject of a ten-year SHPO as part of the 2021 sentence.

The order put restrictions on his online activities, but in July 2024 he was arrested on suspicion of downloading an indecent image of a child.

Examination of the phone revealed 21 indecent images, one in the most serious category, had been downloaded by him at some stage.

She said that while Andrews was “under investigation” over those images allegations, police received information in June last year that in an online account, bearing the defendant’s date of birth and with the “Big John” username, an attempt had been made to engage in chat with a “non-UK minor”.

Andrews, of Inchcape Terrace, Horden, was again arrested and denied the allegation as he said he believed the person in that conversation was not of such a young age.

Miss Todd said as part of an unrelated investigation Andrews was said to have downloaded Snapchat onto his device, in April last year, but when his phone was examined, it had been deleted, which was in breach of the defendant’s notification requirements as a sex offender.

The court heard the defendant has been in full-time employment recently as a digger driver for a construction company and has been in a long-term relationship with a partner of 11 years.

Judge Kidd said an assertion that the defendant was not interested in images of pre-pubescent children did not hold water as the images recovered in the 2024 investigation featured youngsters being abused aged between two and 12.

She said his latest offending was against the background of his previous convictions from 2016 and 2021, after which he was made subject of the ten-year SHPO.

“I take the view that whatever has been in place previously hasn’t been sufficient to deter you from your interest in indecent images of children, and children per se.

“So, the only way to deal with you is by way of an immediate sentence of imprisonment, as previous attempts to set you on the right path have been insufficient and failed to deter you from further breaching the SHPO.”

Imposing prison sentences totalling 20 months she also made the defendant subject to a new ten-year SHPO.

He will also be subject to a further ten years’ notification as a sex offender.

Mark Burton

A paedophile ex-Darlington councillor has been jailed for 12 years for sexually assaulting a boy.

Former Harrowgate Hill councillor Mark Burton was jailed for 22 months in 2012, for sexually assaulting a girl, and for having indecent images of children.

But he has now been locked up again, for a string of sex offences on the boy, which the court heard probably pre-date him being jailed in 2012.

The court was told the latest set of offences only came to light following a more recent complaint.

Mark Burton (Image: Durham Constabulary)

Burton, 57, who was once chair of the council’s Children and Young People’s Scrutiny Committee, still denies four counts of sexual assault, two of sexual activity with a child and one of causing or inciting a child to engage in sexual activity, despite being found guilty by unanimous jury verdicts in January.

The court heard the defendant’s “relevant” conviction for offences committed in 2011 led to him being made subject of an indefinite Sexual Harm Prevention Order (SHPO), plus registration as a sex offender for ten years.

Burton, now of Littleburn Lane in Langley Moor, near Durham, was barred from serving as a councillor after the 2012 conviction.

The court was told the defendant, who initially denied the allegations, before, near the trial, making admissions, remains in denial of the latest offending.

Judge Nathan Adams, who presided over the trial in January, told Burton that when he was convicted in 2012 for offending in 2011, “what was not known was that there was another victim, which only came to light later”.

The judge said the offences were “similar in nature”, but with a different victim, so had they been dealt with all together, in 2012, Burton would have received consecutive sentences.

Judge Adams added that, given his continued denials, he has showed no remorse or empathy with his victim.

Imposing the 12-year sentence, the judge said Burton must serve at least two-thirds of it, eight years, behind bars, before his release on licence.

Judge Adams said the indefinite SHPO remains in force from the 2012 conviction, but he also now made Burton subject of registration as a sex offender for life.

Steven Kay

A man has been jailed for a vodka bottle attack, ‘battering’ one victim.

When police arrived at the Peterlee address, they found a “confused” scene and spoke to some of those present who refused to provide statements.

The court heard that a woman told police that defendant Steven Kay, of Peterlee, had “just battered my friend” and tried to hit someone else.

Steven Kay (Image: Durham Constabulary)

But one of the males at the scene said he had “smashed him (Kay) to bits” when he tried to leave, having been the initial aggressor.

Kay was said to have then used a glass vodka bottle to strike some of those present and two people were found to have bloodied facial injuries.

Martin Towers, prosecuting, said the defendant also had “a significant cut” for which he was taken to hospital for treatment.

The 32-year-old defendant, of Sunny Blunts, was charged with wounding and two counts of assault causing actual bodily, all of which he denied, but his guilty plea to affray on the day of trial was considered an acceptable alternative by the prosecution, given the witness evidential difficulties.

Mr Towers said the offence took place on May 19, 2024, and the defendant has a subsequent assault on an emergency worker, committed in the aftermath of the incident, when he was found hiding behind a bush as police were leaving the scene.

Among previous offences of violence on his record, the defendant was said to have served a two-year prison sentence for grievous bodily harm in 2020 when he struck someone with a piece of wood in a neighbour dispute.

Calum McNicholas, for Kay, said he suffered two large gash wounds to the head in the incident for which he required emergency hospital treatment.

Mr McNicholas said the defendant clearly suffered injuries before any of the others present that day.

“He was the first person to use violence that day but was also the first to receive injuries.”

Judge Jo Kidd told Kay a pre-sentence Probation Service report concludes he poses a high risk of causing serious physical and emotional harm relating to potential future violent offending.

She said this was against a background of repeated convictions for violence over the years.

Judge Kidd imposed an 18-month prison sentence which she said would have been two months longer but for the defendant’s late guilty plea to the affray charge.

Connor Bradley

A child rapist is back behind bars after breaking into two houses just months after his release.

Connor Bradley was described as having an “inappropriate interest” in young girls and his crimes were branded “abhorrent” by his own barrister when he was jailed for ten years in 2015 for the rape of one child and abusing another.

He was released in June last year, but the 32-year-old was back in custody by December after his arrest for two house burglaries.

Connor Bradley (Image: Durham Constabulary)

Durham Crown Court was told he broke into houses in Darlington, shortly after midnight on December 3, and in Consett, in the early hours of December 7.

The court was told the first was at a house in Bracken Road, Darlington, where a mum and daughter were at home.

Bradley took a rucksack containing a phone, four bottles of vodka, £35 in cash and a bank card, with a total value of £405.

He then used the card to spend £20.25 at the Shell garage on Woodland Road and on vending machines in Darlington Memorial Hospital, in the early hours that morning.

Bradley was recognised from doorbell camera footage.

While still at large, Bradley went to a property on Fifth Street in Consett in the early hours of December 7 and climbed onto an upturned recycling bin to try to get in via an open bathroom window.

Miss Parkinson said he was disturbed by the householders and left empty-handed but was seen fleeing and his fingerprints were found at the scene.

He was also spotted on CCTV in the area.

Police were called and he was arrested.

Bradley, of Bessemer Street in Ferryhill, formerly of Spennymoor, admitted two counts of burglary, plus fraud by false representation, from his use of the stolen bank card.

Penny Hall, in mitigation, told the court he had “struggled to adjust in the community after serving the long sentence imposed in 2015, and turned to alcohol as, “a coping mechanism”.

Imposing a two-year prison sentence, Judge Kidd said a pre-sentence report prepared for the court, “does not make for happy reading”, with mention of, “a consistent pattern of poor compliance”, in Bradley’s dealings with the Probation Service.

Jonathan Stuart

A Bishop Auckland paedophile has been put behind bars after he was caught wiping his internet history in breach of a court order.

Jonathan Stuart, 36, had only been released on licence from a previous prison sentence for breaching the Sexual Harm Prevention Order (SHPO), on January 22, when his latest offence came to light on February 17.

The court was told that on a routine home visit, his police risk offender manager examined Stuart’s phone and discovered its history went back no further back than the previous evening.

Jonathan Stuart (Image: Durham Constabulary)

Upon being arrested, the defendant claimed his phone froze while playing an online game and so he performed a factory re-set, wiping his history of internet use.

This was in breach of the SHPO, imposed in August 2023 when he was convicted for attempted sexual communication with a child.

Charlie Thompson, prosecuting, said the defendant’s five convictions for nine offences are primarily for breaching the SHPO, following the original offence.

As a result of the latest breach the defendant was recalled to prison to serve the remaining unserved part of his previous sentence and will not be eligible for release until January 24 next year.

Stuart, of Richardson Avenue, Bishop Auckland, admitted the latest breach of the SHPO when he appeared before magistrates the following day.

Judge Kidd said the latest offence was committed little more than three weeks after his release from prison from his previous sentence.

“Given your antecedent history you were more than aware of what your conditions were.

“You seem incapable of following the terms of that order and there are now six breaches of the SHPO, which was only imposed in August 2023.”

Imposing a further one-year prison sentence, the judge told the defendant if he continues to fail to abide by the terms of the order he will only continue on the cycle, of prison, release and re-arrest.

Matthew Fox

A man was jailed following a ‘persistent’ assault on a neighbouring resident in shared accommodation, after accusing him of stealing tobacco.

Matthew Fox was in another resident’s room playing a computer game at the accommodation complex in Spennymoor, when the offence took place in October, 2024.

The court heard that when the eventual victim went into the room, Fox made the allegation that he had stolen some of his tobacco.

As the other man left the room and was heading along the corridor he was followed by Fox.

Matthew Fox (Image: Durham Constabulary)

They went into the other man’s room to “sort it out”, but once inside, the man accused of taking the tobacco said he did not want to fight.

Fox ignored his comment and threw a punch, knocking him to the floor, where he then kneed him in the face and stamped on his head, telling him to: “Get up and fight”.

The defendant then left the room, with the victim bleeding from the nose.

It was reported to support staff and the victim was taken to hospital for treatment for a laceration to the right side of the forehead, plus bruising to the left side of the face and an eye.

Fox made no comment when arrested and while on bail he was involved in a disturbance at the home of his now ex-partner in Seaham to which police attended after a 999 call in the early hours of September 2, last year.

Fox, who smashed his then partner’s mobile phone after the call was made to police, left the property, but was found in a bush by police attending the address.

The 36-year-old defendant, formerly of Clarence Street, Spennymoor, but more recently of Davison Terrace, Sacriston, admitted assault causing actual bodily harm and criminal damage.

Jonathan Crawford, for Fox, said he has made expressions of remorse and, while in custody, since his arrest in Seaham last September, he has had time to “reflect on his behaviour” and to “get clean” of drugs, which he hopes to continue into the future.

Judge Kidd described the assault as “persistent”, including stamping on someone on the ground, causing injuries which required stitches.

She imposed a 16-month prison sentence and told Fox she “sincerely hopes” he uses his time in prison to continue to address his misuse of drink and drugs, which has been at the root of his offending.

Megan Gibson

A Newton Aycliffe woman who knocked out a bouncer, mowed down a pregnant woman, and sank her teeth into a police officer was jailed at the court on March 19.

Megan Gibson, 26, was already known to police, having offences of violence on her record from her teens, before the spate of incidents, between 2023 and August last year.

The court heard it began with a joint assault, with a male co-accused, after they were escorted from a boxing event at The Big Club in Newton Aycliffe, at 10.30pm on April 14, 2023.

Megan Gibson (Image: Durham Constabulary)

Gibson shouted: “Watch what happens now”, before the pair ran back in, half-an-hour later, when she approached and attacked a female member of door staff, punching and stamping on her several times, knocking her unconscious.

Bystanders ran to the aid of the victim who suffered head aches, pain and nausea afterwards.

While on bail over that incident, Gibson was driving her car in Shildon, on August 15, 2023, when she spotted a woman passenger in a passing car, with whom she had a previous online row.

While approaching a roundabout on Spout Lane, Gibson gestured to the other woman to get out of the car she was travelling in, which she did.

As she stood on a grass verge, the defendant drove at her, knocking her to the ground, before speeding away.

The victim, who was in the early stages of pregnancy, was taken to hospital suffering back pain and other injuries to her knees and the rest of her body.

It left her traumatised, fearing for the health of her unborn child, to whom she has since safely given birth.

Gibson was arrested days later and taken into custody.

But, having again been granted bail, she failed to attend a subsequent court sentencing hearing for the club attack and was made the subject of a bench warrant.

Mr Dodds said police attended a reported disturbance at a house in Darlington, on August 21, last year and the defendant was found hiding under a bed in an upstairs room.

The court heard she refused to come out, threatening police, claiming to be armed with ammonia spray, a petrol bomb and a knife.

When officers began to pull her from under the bed she bit the hand of one of them, but it did not pierce the skin due to the gloves he was wearing.

Gibson, of Clanny Road, Newton Aycliffe, was before the court for three offences of assault causing actual bodily harm, one of which was with the intention of resisting arrest, and for dangerous driving, all of which she admitted.

She was said to have seven past convictions for 12 offences, including battery and common assault as a youth offender.

The court heard the defendant had previously abused drink and drugs, but is now clean of both having spent several months on remand in HMP Low Newton awaiting the resolution of the court case.

Judge Kidd said Gibson’s behaviour at the boxing event, at which teenagers were present, was “disgraceful”, while, referring to the roadside incident in Shildon, she told the defendant: “You deliberately drove a vehicle at someone in the street, the equivalent of using a highly dangerous weapon.”

Imposing a total 25-month prison sentence, she also banned Gibson from driving for two years, upon her release from custody.

She must pass an extended re-test if she is to lawfully drive again following expiry of the ban.

Craig Jackson

A man remains in denial over a drink-fuelled domestic assault in which he repeatedly banged his partner’s head off a wall.

Despite maintaining his innocence, Craig Jackson was convicted of assault at trial in February and is now starting a 30-month prison sentence.

Craig Jackson (Image: Durham Constabulary)

He was said to have snapped while in drink and repeatedly thrust his partner’s head off a wall at the bottom of the stairs at their home, on the evening of March 20, 2022.

The court heard that he used such force that it made a loud banging noise.

He was said to have paused the attack and flung his partner onto the stairs, but then grabbed her again and began hitting her head off the opposite wall, also, “with significant force”.

When the attack ended, he said nothing, but went into the kitchen for food, which he came back chewing, while laughing, before spitting it out over his distressed partner’s face.

The incident only came to light two years later and Jackson was arrested in June 2024.

Miss Horton said he was charged with assault causing actual bodily harm in April last year and pleaded not guilty on his first court hearing weeks later.

The now 43-year-old defendant, of Buckingham Crescent, West Rainton, near Durham, maintained his guilty plea at trial but was found guilty by magistrates, who committed him to the crown court for sentence.

Judge Kidd said, given that he doesn’t accept his ex-partner was telling the truth at trial, he lacks insight into the offending.

Jennifer Coxon, for Jackson, said the defendant maintains that his lifestyle is now significantly different from what it was in 2022, when alcohol was a “significant factor” in his previous relationship.

She said at the time having previously separated, he had been allowed back into the family home, where there was, “clearly a lot of emotional upset between him and his partner.”

Judge Kidd described the assault as both “prolonged and persistent”, from which the victim suffered, “serious psychological harm”.

Imposing the 30-month prison sentence, the judge said there would be no discount for a guilty plea, due to the defendant’s continued denials.

She also put in place a restraining order prohibiting him from contacting his ex-partner directly or indirectly for an indefinite length of time.